Water heater for electric ranges



July 7, 1931. w. RICHARDSON-ET AL 1,313,124

WATER HEATER FOR ELECTRIC RANGES Filed April 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l I o H 1 a u n 3 Will 13am Ev'ckardson, 63607 96 Jtgingrwbctr,

July 7, 1931. w, RlCHARDSON ETAL 1,813,124

WATER HEATER FOR ELECTRIC amass Filed April 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

zjww'nlo'o Richardson atfoznugd/ Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM RICHARDSON AND GEORGE STEINGRUBER, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA; SAID RICHARDSON ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SAID STEINGRUBER WATER HEATER FOR ELECTRIC RANGES Application filed April 9, 1929. Serial No. 353,719.

This invention relates to electric ranges, and more particularly to a water heater especially applicable to such ranges.

As is well known, one of the chief draw- 5 backs to the more universal use of electric cooking ranges is the fact that such ranges as heretofore constructed contain no provision for the heating of water, and that therefore in homes where such ranges are employed, the

1 kitchen is without hot water during the summer months, unless some special, separate heating device is installed.

The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a water heating device for electric ranges so constructed and arranged that it may be used either to heat the water in a stand boiler, after the manner of an ordinary water-back, or may serve as a semiinstantaneous heater to furnish quickly a small amount of very hot water.

A further object is to combine a water heater with an electric range in such a manner that the water heater itself constitutes the floor or bottom of a warm closet which may be conveniently used for keeping food warm after it has been cooked.

Further objects are to provide apparatus of the above type which shall be simple and cheap in construction, easy to install and eiiicient and serviceable in operation.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which Fig. 1 is a schematic layout conventionally illustrating an electric range equipped with our i mprovod warm closet and water heater, and also illustrating the usual sink and stand boiler operatively connected with the water heater.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation on an enlarged scale showing a portion of the range, parts being broken away and parts be ing in section; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, parts being in elevation and parts being broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, an electric range, having for the most part any desired details of construction, is indicated at 1, and the usual cooking top at 2. The oven is indicated at 3, and below this is arranged a warm closet 4.

As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the

able back plate 7 as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The front of the combined oven and warm closet structure is formed of a frame 8, preferably made of sheet metal shaped in a die press and having flanged door openings 9 and 10 for the oven and warm closet respectively. Suitable doors l1 and l1 are provided over these openings.

Below the warm closet 4 the range comprises horizontally extending frame members in the form of angle irons 12, these irons being disposed both longitudinally and transversely, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, and the supporting legs 13 are secured by suitable bolts (not shown) to these angle irons.

'Our improved water-box or heater consists of a rectangular, relatively shallow, metal tank 14, having a flat top 1 1* which constitutes the floor or bottom of the warm closet. It will be observed that this box or heater rests upon the angle irons 12 and is of such depth that it just fills the space between these angle irons and the lower edge 10 of the door opening 10 of the warm closet. The front frame 8 has a anel 8 which extends below the door opening 10 a sufficient distance to cover and conceal this heater or water-box.

It will be further understood that in installing our improved heater or water-box, the back plate 7 of the range is removed and the water-box slid into position like a drawer,

" generation of steam.

running on the angle irons 12 as guides. The back plate may then be replaced and the heater or water-box is entirely enclosed within the confines of the warm closet, and, as above pointed out, constitutes the bottom thereof. Similarly, the water box may be removed as a unit without disturbing anything but the back plate.

Preferably the water-box is covered on the sides and bottom with some suitable heat insulating lagging, as indicated in Figure 3 at 14 the top of the box being left bare, and it will be understood that when the water in this box has once been heated, it will retain the heat for a considerable period of time, thus serving to keep food warm, when clesired, for several hours.

The details of construction of this waterbox or heater per se form no part of the present invention but are disclosed in application Serial No. 353,718, filed by one of the present joint inventors, William Richardson, of even date herewith. Suffice it to say that the water in this box is heated by means of suitable electric heating elements extending through the same as indicated in dotted lines at 15 in Figure 2. 1

Referring now particularly to Figure 1, a stand boiler is indicated at 16. A pipe 17 extends from the bottom of this boiler to one side of the heater 14, a suitable shut-off valve 18 being interposed in this pi e. A pipe 19 extends from the other side 0 the heater 14 to the top of the stand boiler 16, a shut-off valve 20 being interposed in this pipe.

A blow-off or safety valve 21 of any suitable construction is preferably mounted on the pipe 1.9 in order to prevent the possibility of any excessive pressure due to the A draw-ofl cock or spigot 22 is connected with the pipe 19, preferably adjacent the range, as shown, and a service pipe 23 also taps the pipe 19 at a point between the valve 20 and the range,

-' and is connected with the usual hot water spigot 24 of the customary sink. A cold water pipe 25 from any suitable source may also extend to the sink.

Water from the city mains or other available source enters the system through a supply pipe 26 which taps the pipe 17 at a point between the stand boiler andthe range, and a pipe 26 may extend from the pipe 19 to the bathroom or'other point where hot water is desired.

The heaters for the cooking top 2 are controlled by the usual switches 27, arranged in any desired manner, and an additional switch 28 is provided for controlling the heating elements 15 in the water-box 14.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that when the valves 18 and 20 are open and the switch 28 turned on, the water box 14 will serve as a circulation heater to heat the water in the stand boiler 16, after the manner of an ordinary water-back, circulation taking place in the direction indicated by the dotted arrows. After the stand boiler has had time to heat up, hot water may be drawn therefrom through the spigot 24 in the usual manner, the water probably flowing, under these circumstances, partly from the to of the stand boiler and partly direct from t e heater 14. When, however, as for example when first starting up in the morning, it is desired to obtain hot water quickly, and when a relatively small amount will suffice, the shut-off valve 20 is closed, and in a few minutes the water standing in the water-box or heater 14 will become highly heated. This hot water may then be drawn either from the cock 22 or the cook 24 as desired, cold water coming in through the pipe 17 to take its place, as indicated by the full line arrows. Thus the water-box may serve either as acirculation heater when the valve 20 18 open, or as a semi-instantaneous heater when the valve 20 is closed. Furthermore, under either condition, it forms the bottom of the warm closet, and thus serves to keep food warm when desired over relatively long periods of time.

Should the switch 28 be inadvertently left on too long while the valve 20 is closed, so that steam is generated in the water-box, the pressure thus set up will be relieved either by backing the water up in the pipe 17 or by blowing off through the safety valve 21. If desired, a thermostatic switch may be included in the circuit of the heating ele ments 15 and mounted adjacent the waterbox so as to open the circuit to such heating elements when the temperature of the waterbox reaches a predetermined point.

What we claim is 1- p 1. The combination with a cooking range having the usual oven, of a warming closet below the oven, a closed water-box having a flat top forming the floor or bottom of said closet, and means for heating said water-box.

2. The combination with a cooking range having the usual oven, of a worming closet belowthe oven, a removable water-box havinga flat top forming the floor or bottom of said closet, a stand boiler, circulation pipes connecting said stand boiler with said waterbox, and means for heating said water-box.

3. The combination with a cooking range having the usual oven, of a warming closet below the oven, a water-box having a fiat top forming the fioor or bottom of said closet, a stand boiler, a pipe connecting said waterbox with the top of said stand boiler, a spigot tapping said pipe, a second pipe connecting said water-box with the bottom of said-stand boiler, a supply pipe tapping said second pipe, and means for heating said water-box.

4. The combination with a cooking range having the usual oven and electrical heating means therefor, of a warming closet adjacent the oven, a water-box having a flat top forming the floor or bottom of said closet and removable as a unit from said range, and electrical means for heating said water-box.

5. The combination with a cooking range having the usual oven and electrical heating means therefor, of a warming closet adjacent the oven, a water-box associated with said closet, a stand boiler, circulation pipes connecting said stand boiler said water-box, electricalmeansforheatingsaidwater-box, valves means for interrupting the circulation and for causing the water-box to serve as a semiinstantaneous heater, and means for drawing hot water directly from said water-box while the circulation to the stand boiler is interrupted.

6. The combination with a cooking range having the usual oven and electrical heating means therefor, of a warming closet associated with said oven, a water-box adjacent said closet, electrical means for heating said water-box, a stand boiler, a pipe connecting said water-box with the top of said stand boiler and having a shut-off valve therein, a delivery cock connected with said pipe between said valve and said water-box, a second pipe connecting said water-box with the bottom of said stand boiler, and a supply pipe connected with said second pipe, whereby when said shut-off valve is closed water may flow freely from said supply pipe through said water-box to said cock, such water being heated during its passage through the waterbox.

7. The combination with a cooking range having the usual oven and electrical heating means therefor, of a warming closet adjacent said oven, heat insulating means between said oven and said warming closet, an electric water heater removable as a unit from said range and having a flat top forming the bottom of said warming closet, and pipes con nected with said heater whereby water may be caused to flow through the same.

8. The combination with a cooking range having the usual oven, of a warming closet located below said oven, the frame of the range below said warming closet comprising angle irons, an insertable and removable water-box supported on said angle irons and having a flat top constituting the bottom of said warming closet, and electrical means for heating said water box.

9. The combination with a cooking range having the usual oven and electrical heating means therefor, of a warming closet located below said oven, a frame member forming the front of the combined oven and warming closet structure and having the usual doors thereon, said frame member extending a substantial distance below the lower edge of the lower door, angle iron members extending transversely from front to back of the range beneath said'warming closet and an electrically heated water-box having a flat top forming the bottom of said warming closet, said waterbox being insertable from the rear of the range and supported upon said angle irons, and further being relatively shallow and occupying the space between said angle irons and the lower edge of the warming closet door opening.

1.0. The combination with an electric cooking range, of a water-box associated therewith, a stand boiler, circulation pipes connecting said stand boiler with said water-box, electrical. means for heating said water-box, valve means for interrupting the circulation and for causing the water-box to serve as a semi-instantaneous heater, and means for drawing hot water directly from said waterboX while the circulation to the stand boiled is interrupted.

11. The combination with a stand boiler, of a separate, relatively small water-box, electrical means for heating said water-box, a pipe connecting said waterb0x with the top of said stand boiler and having a shut-off valve therein, a delivery cock connected with said pipe between said valve and said waterbox, a second pipe connecting said waterbox with the bottom of said stand boiler, and a supply pipe connected with said second pipe, whereby when said shut-off valve is closed water may flow freely from said supply pipe through said water-box to said cock, such water being heated during its passage through the water-box.

In testimony whereof we afiix our tures.

signa- TVILLIAM RICHARDSON. GEORGE STEIN GRUBER. 

